 By Kevin Brown | Bio
In
last week’s post, I defined a Caregiver as “any individual who
willingly gives of themselves to improve the quality of life for
another individual.” There are times when the responsibility of
providing care weighs heavy upon Caregivers. When this giving of self,
especially when it occurs over prolonged periods, leaves the Caregiver
drained of energy and in need of care themselves, it is time to take a
step back and look at what one’s own needs are.[ Read More]
Written by eldering at Wisdom in Action
Join discussion COMMENTS [2]
Tagged with:
caregiver
family
healthcare
responsibility
social_network
By Kevin Brown | Bio
Today is ‘Family Day’, a public holiday in
the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and
Saskatchewan. It is also celebrated in South Africa, in the Australian
Capital Territory, in the state of Arizona in the U.S., and in the
Republic of Vanuatu in the South Pacific. In Alberta where I live, ‘Family Day’ was declared to recognize the values[ Read More]
Written by eldering at Fearless Aging
Join discussion COMMENTS [3]
Tagged with:
elders
family
multigenerational
values
wisdom
By Jim Selman | Bio
Last evening we were having a lively family
conversation about life in general and Eldering in particular. We
talked about whether there is, in fact, a ‘generational divide’ and, if
so, what can we say about it. To my surprise, my children and my son’s
girlfriend all felt that there was less of a divide in the minds of
people their age than in the minds of people my age. I asked the
question, “What do young men and women talk to each other about that
you would be reluctant to talk about with people our age?” What they
said is that reluctance to have a particular conversation or to be open
has more to do with the culture of the participants than with their
age. They all agreed that they are more ‘open’ and authentic in urban
West Coast types of circumstances than when they travel to the Midwest
or the South.[ Read More]
Written by eldering at Fearless Aging
Join discussion COMMENTS [1]
Tagged with:
communication
conversation
eldering
family
generations
My father and I drove from Arizona to the Northwest last week and we
are now enjoying a relaxed week together along with my daughter and her
husband. I am grateful for the opportunity to spend whatever time I can
with family. I think that, as we get older, our appreciation for our
children and parents expands. At the same time, I can also see that I
can become ‘stuck’ in a kind of ‘family-get-together-pattern’. Not that
this is bad, but it is different than how I might normally spend a week
at home and we definitely have different conversations than I have with
my friends.
I am certain this has more to do with me than my father or daughter,
but it is interesting to see that I feel ‘less myself’ when I am in
this setting. Let me give you an example. I never watch TV at home or
even when I am traveling, except for the occasional movie or news show.
We’ve been watching TV a lot these last few days. On one level, this
seems to me to be taking away from our time together and on the other
hand, that is just how we’re spending some of our time. Another example
is in a conversation about social policy, I find that I am not only
less logical and articulate than I might normally be, but I also ‘walk
on eggshells’ to avoid strong disagreement. Mostly I feel powerless and
frustrated that I can’t persuade them or at least have them acknowledge
the validity of my arguments. Shame on me! [ Read More]
Written by Jim Selman at Wisdom in Action
Join discussion COMMENTS [0]
Tagged with:
conversation
death
family
relationship
wisdom
I had an extraordinary visit with my oldest daughter last week. She is an elementary school teacher in Houston, and an excellent one by all accounts. She and her husband have a lovely home and friends. Their lives are good. What made the visit special for me was that Cindy and I had one of those heart-to-heart talks that parents and children can have from time to time, and I realized how much there is for me to learn from her. [ Read More]
Written by Jim Selman at Wisdom in Action
Join discussion COMMENTS [0]
Tagged with:
conversation
family
generation
respect
As you may know, I am traveling and working in South America and, as luck or bad planning would have it, I am away on my mate’s 60th birthday. So rather than just sending flowers or waiting until I get home, I want to send this special birthday greeting and let you all know what a special lady Darlene is. [ Read More]
Written by Jim Selman at Personal Empowerment
Join discussion COMMENTS [1]
Tagged with:
birthday
boomer
family
retirement
Sao Paulo is a big city—the largest in Brazil and one of the largest in
the world. From my point of view, it’s not particularly pretty, but it
is alive with energy. On the weekend, I went to Parque Iberapuera,
their equivalent of Central Park. Like most parks on a Saturday
afternoon, it was filled with people of all ages, walking or jogging,
enjoying this lovely oasis in the middle of tall buildings and endless
residential streets. [ Read More]
Written by Jim Selman at Fearless Aging
Join discussion COMMENTS [2]
Tagged with:
appreciation
brazil
community
culture
family
loneliness
By Vincent DiBiancaBio
When I was a little kid, my picture of "grandpop" was of a little old
guy with spectacles, stooped posture, a little paunch, a distinctive
limp and false teeth. My grandfather often brought a smile and a wink
with him, but he wasn't particularly able to relate to me. I recall we
sometimes played checkers or cards; however, I don't remember doing
anything special with him. We never went off exploring together (except
for an occasional movie). He seemed more interested in assigning me
chores (and imposing discipline) than teaching me values and how to
think. Grandpa was a part of my life, but he was actually more of a
babysitter than anything else.[ Read More]
Written by eldering at Wisdom in Action
Join discussion COMMENTS [0]
Tagged with:
commitment
connection
family
grandfather
grandparent
grandparenting
|
RSS Feeds
